Highlights of the South & Central FL Semi-Final

There was definitely excitement in the air at the South & Central Florida Semi-Final. Tee times began at 7:30am off Holes 1 & 10 at The Diplomat Country Club & Spa. The sky was clear, the humidity was rising, and 89 women were ready to play golf!

A few hours later, the players were coming into the clubhouse, and the scores were being posted. Then, to add to the excitement, there was a sudden death playoff in the Third flight for 1st place gross. Valerie Briggman from Miami and Melissa Cox from Naples got their golf clubs and headed out to the 10th Hole. Both women hit their balls down the fairway, and when they got on the green, Valerie sunk a 10 foot putt to win 1st place low gross. Congratulations Valerie!

Here are the scores from each flight:

Fourth flight
1st Low Gross: Maureen Monroe, Manatee - 113
1st Low Net: Michelle Boyer, Miami - 76
2nd Low Gross: Kay Benston-Bushell, Polk County - 119
2nd Low Net: Cheryl Pierson, Port St Lucie/Treasure Coast - 88
3rd Low Gross: Yvonne Santiago, Tampa - 123
3rd Low Net: Kay Russell, Naples - 91

Third flight
1st Low Gross: *Valerie Briggman, Miami - 102
1st Low Net: Melissa Cox, Naples - 94
2nd Low Gross: Wanda Warburton, Manatee - 103
2nd Low Net: Mary Jo Burke, Naples - 78
3rd Low Gross: Gina DeLowrey, Port St Lucie/Treasure Coast - 107
3rd Low Net: Jo Duncan, Polk County - 80
*Sudden death playoff

Second flight
1st Low Gross: Mamie Doktor, Polk County - 89
1st Low Net: Christine Funair, Tampa Bay - 75
2nd Low Gross: Kate Finan, Naples - 99
2nd Low Net: Kathie Geartz, Manatee - 81
3rd Low Gross: Nancy Lobby, Palm Beach County - 103
3rd Low Net: Becki Westbrook, Manatee - 82

First flight
1st Low Gross: Kerry Timm, Tampa Bay - 78
1st Low Net: Debby Davis, Polk County - 75
2nd Low Gross: Kimberly Selmore, Miami - 90
2nd Low Net: Ellen Schechter, Palm Beach County - 77
3rd Low Gross: Diane Perry, Ft Lauderdale Area - 93
3rd Low Net: Amy Palladino, Manatee - 77

Championship flight
1st Low Gross: Pat Beljan-Ayres, Port St Lucie/Treasure Coast - 74
1st Low Net: Debbie Smither, Manatee - 78
2nd Low Gross: Patricia Rogers, Tampa Bay - 83

Scramble
1st Place: *Tampa Bay Chapter - 70
Captain Cathy Ford, Chris Daywalt, Kim Byle, Michele Pontius

2nd Place: Miami Chapter - 70
Captain Jacqueline Cox, Margie Gabriel, Ofelia Beiro, Kerstin Koenig

3rd Place: Port St Lucie Chapter - 74
Captain Allyson Sweat, Terie McComb, Sandy DeMello, Alison Yerington
*Scorecard Playoff

The last award to be given out was the 1st place low gross winner in the Championship flight. As Pat Beljan-Ayres stood at the front of the room holding her trophy, she wanted to share a story about her competition. Pat said on the first hole as they waited to hit their shots, she was practicing her swing. As she took a practice stroke, mud flew up from the ground and covered Debbie Smither from head-to-toe. Talk about getting off to a rough start...

Lastly, THANK YOU to all of our volunteers. We truly appreciated all of your help!

The first Semi-Final of the 2008 season is in the record books, and we hope that you will continue to check in as the season continues. The next Semi-Final is Southern California/Desert Southwest in Tucson, AZ on July 12.

Are you ready???

Can you feel it? Can you feel the excitement of the Championship season that is upon us? The first EWGA Semi-Final is this Saturday June 21st and what an exciting field we have. 89 players will be competing at the luxurious Diplomat Country Club and Spa in Hallendale Beach, FL, just minutes south of the Fort Lauderdale Airport. I highly recommend a visit if you haven't already.

In the field this weekend, we have 57 stoke play competitors and one of them is our 2006 National Champion, Pat Beljan-Ayers of Port St. Lucie, FL. Pat is probably feeling the heat when she looks at the Championship flight competition of Pat Rogers from the Tampa Bay, FL Chapter who is a 3.2 index and Debbie Smither from the Manatee, FL Chapter who enters as the lowest index with a 0.2.

Other notables like Ellen Schechter (Palm Beach County, FL), Ingrid Hunter (Miami, FL) and Mary Jo Burke (Naples, FL) are ready to make their impressions and earn a spot into the EWGA Championship Finals which will take place in on Sept. 26-27 in Aloha, OR at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club.

We also have great representation in the Scramble division, with all South & Central Florida Chapters sending a team. As I recall from last year, Tampa Bay and Manatee really had a battle cry during the awards ceremony, so we'll see who is "crying" at the end of this Championship.

I can't wait to see what happens. Stay tuned as I will keep you updated on all the excitement happening this weekend in South Florida.

All the best - Stephanie

Trying Something New...

For 2008, the EWGA Championship Committee wants to keep championship participants, members, family and friends informed during the Semi-Final Championships. During the next three months, EWGA Staff members' Stephanie, Josie, and Jessica will keep you posted as we travel around the United States to our 15 Semi-Final Championship locations. We will update this blog after each Semi-Final to give highlights on the day.

Remember, the Championship is the premier event of the EWGA, and we hope all of you will join us at the Championship Finals. The 2008 Finals will be held at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, OR on September 26 & 27, 2008. Hope to see you there!